Electronic cigarette having a flexible and soft configuration

ABSTRACT

Generally described, the present disclosure relates to an electronic cigarette intended to more effectively simulate the feel of a traditional cigarette. In one illustrative embodiment, the electronic cigarette can have a flexible and resilient housing, sufficiently strong to protect internal components and sufficient flexible to provide a more realistic user experience to user&#39;s accustomed to the pliability of traditional cigarettes. A paper label may be provided, either affixed to the flexible housing or to a prior art, rigid housing. A plastic coating may be providing of the portion of the paper label intended to be inserted into a user&#39;s mouth, so as to prevent degradation of the label while at the same time preserving a realistic feel for those portions of the device not intended to be inserted into the mouth.

REFERENCE TO RELATED DISCLOSURES

This disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/624,056 titled SOFT-ENDED ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE to Mark Scatterdaythat was filed on Apr. 13, 2012 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/614,973 titled ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE ATTACHMENTS, COMPONENTS ANDHOLDERS to Craig Weiss and Mark Scatterday that was filed on Mar. 23,2012

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to electronic cigarettes, and moreparticularly, to features that make electronic cigarettes more able tomimic a traditional cigarette.

BACKGROUND

Electronic cigarettes currently available on the market are anincreasingly popular smoking alternative for smokers of traditionalcigarettes. Prior electronic utilize a tubular housing that retainstherewithin the device components, which typically include a battery,cartridge, heating element, and a printed circuit. In the prior art,such housings comprise metal or hard plastic, so that the device doesnot have the precise feel of a traditional cigarette, whether to theuser's touch or when placed in the user's mouth.

An electronic cigarette which more closely provides the feel of atraditional cigarette, according to its various embodiments, will bedescribed in the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION OFTHE APPLICATION. This summary is not intended to identify key featuresof the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aidin determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, an electroniccigarette is provided. The electronic cigarette comprises: a housingadapted to contain components of an electronic cigarette device; whereinthe housing is comprised of a flexible and resilient material capable ofprotecting the components while allowing the housing to flex whenhandled by a user.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, anelectronic cigarette is provided. The electronic cigarette comprises: ahousing adapted to contain components of an electronic cigarette device;a label adapted to be placed over at least a portion of an exterior ofthe housing; wherein the label is comprised of paper; a plastic coatingpositioned over a portion of the label in an area where the label isintended to enter a user's mouth during use.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, anelectronic cigarette is provided. The electronic cigarette comprises: ahousing adapted to contain components of an electronic cigarette device;wherein the housing is comprised of a flexible and resilient materialcapable of protecting the components while allowing the housing to flexwhen handled by a user; a label adapted to be placed over at least aportion of an exterior of the housing; wherein the label is comprised ofpaper; and a plastic coating positioned over a portion of the label inan area where the label is intended to enter a user's mouth during use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the application areset forth in the appended claims. In the descriptions that follow, likeparts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the samenumerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn toscale and certain figures can be shown in exaggerated or generalizedform in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The application itself,however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives andadvantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a single-use electronic cigarette in accordancewith one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an electronic cigarette inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an electronic in accordancewith one or more aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of an electronic cigarette in accordance with oneor more aspects of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawingsis intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of theapplication and is not intended to represent the only fauns in which thepresent application can be constructed and/or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing andoperating the application in connection with the illustratedembodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same orequivalent functions and sequences can be accomplished by differentembodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spiritand scope of this application.

Generally described, the present disclosure relates to an electroniccigarette. In one illustrative embodiment, the electronic cigarette caninclude a flexible yet resilient housing, preferably formed from asuitable plastic material. Through the use of such material, a moretactile feel can be allowed, more accurately simulating the feel of atraditional cigarette, while still suitably protecting the internaldevice components contained within the housing. In one embodiment, apaper label is provided—whether on a prior art, steel housing or, morepreferably, on a flexible housing as described herein—so as to moreaccurately simulate the paper feel of a traditional cigarette. A numberof additional advantages will become apparent from the descriptionprovided below.

As will be shown, FIGS. 1 through 4 depict a single-use electroniccigarette. It should be noted, however, that electronic cigarettesconsistent with one or more embodiments of the present invention can beprovided as a single unit or in multiple pieces, (e.g., with the batteryand cartridge comprising separable components), and in the form of acigar rather than a cigarette.

FIG. 1 is a side view of single-use electronic cigarette 500 inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Thedevice 500, as shown, is provided as a one-piece assembly (i.e., withbattery and cartridge both contained within a single housing) and may bedisposable after the expiration of the battery or cartridge. When used,the tip of the device 500 can illuminate, simulating the effects of atraditional cigarette, as is known in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the electronic cigarette 500 includes a housing602 that contains the components of the device. This include the battery606, heating element and cartridge 608, as well as other components (notshown). The housing 602 must be sufficiently sturdy to providestructural support and also to protect the user from heat generated bythe heating element and, as well, to prevent the user from damaging anyof the interior components. Typical prior art housings are rigid and arecomprised of steel, which provides structural support and which suitablyprotect the components housed therewithin, covered with a sheet ofplastic material. Such a construction, however, is less appealing, froma tactile perspective, to a user of traditional cigarettes, since it isnot deformable like a traditional cigarette, lacks the paper covering ofa traditional cigarette, and because of its excessive weight as comparedto that of a traditional cigarette.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the prior artrigid housing is replaced with a housing 602 that is flexible, yetresilient—providing sufficient structural integrity and protecting theinterior components while also providing users with a device that isflexible, yet resilient, and that is also lighter. One preferred suchmaterial is polycarbonate (PC). The use of PC permits the fabrication ofa housing that satisfies each of the following criteria: (a) protectsinterior components; (b) is flexible to the touch, yet resilient; (c)can be provided with an interior diameter large enough to house internalcomponents and an outer diameter small enough to mimic that of atraditional cigarette (approximately 8 mm); and (d) is resistant to heatgenerated by the heating element.

The use of other synthetic materials, such as polystyrene or polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, or polypropylene, may also be suitable, thoughsuch materials would need to be provided in a greater wall thicknessthan PC to achieve the objects of the present invention (the desiredcombination of strength, flexibility, lighter weight, and heatresistance), necessitating a shrinking of the internal device componentsif a traditional cigarette outer diameter is to be maintained, theprovision of an electronic cigarette that is thicker than a traditionalcigarette, the provision of a insulation layer, or other modifications.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, a label 702 is provided overall or at least some portion of the housing 602. In some prior artelectronic cigarettes, labels are comprised of a sheet plastic type ofmaterial, which can be fashioned so as to simulate the appearance ofcigarette paper, but which lacks the paper feel of actual cigarettepaper. In this embodiment, the label 702 may be provided from a papermaterial. The label 702 may be provided as a laminate, with an adhesivefilm layer thereunder, and may be laminated to the exterior surface ofthe housing 602. Preferably, the label 702 is slightly overlapped, tocompensate for manufacturing tolerances.

Additionally, it is preferable to laminate the portion of the label 702that may enter the mouth of the user during use, generally correspondingto the portion overlaying the cartridge 608, with a plastic such aspolypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate. Without such lamination,the label 702 will degrade after coming into contact with the interiorof the user's mouth or if it otherwise comes into contact with moisture.At the same time, by providing the lamination only over the portion thatcontact's the mouth, the remainder of the cigarette 500 retains apaper-like feel and appearance.

In one embodiment, the housing 602 is provided with an interior diameterof approximately 7.7 mm, though an outer diameter in the range of about7.59 mm to about 7.86 mm. The label 702, including the adhesive layer,may have a thickness of approximately 0.09 mm, though a thickness in therange of about 0.06 to about 0.15 mm would be permissible. Thepolypropylene layer may be provided in a thickness of approximately 0.03mm, though a thickness in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.06 mm wouldbe permissible. This combination, even allowing for an overlapping ofthe label 702, permits the construction of an electronic cigarette 500having the same outer diameter of a traditional cigarette (i.e.,approximately 8 mm).

In the preferred embodiment, the label 702 as herein described is placedover a flexible housing 602, as also herein described. It should benoted, however, that substantial benefit may be obtained from providingan electronic cigarette utilizing a prior art, rigid housing, and apaper label 702 as herein described, or by providing a flexible housing602 as herein described, with a label designed printed thereon or with aplastic label. Any such configuration would provide substantial benefitover prior art devices.

It should be noted that it may be desired to provide an insulationsleeve (not shown) in the interior of housing 602, interposed betweenthe interior diameter of the housing 602 and the internal devicecomponents.

FIG. 4 is a side view of electronic cigarette 500, illustrating theflexibility provided by the housing 602 as herein described. The device500, because of the flexible yet resilient qualities of housing 602, canbe indented typically anywhere along the length of the device 500. Whenpressed in, the device 500 can bend at the point of where the pressurewas applied. When released, the conduit 500 can return to its normalstate.

The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled inthe relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein.Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined hereincan be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intendedto be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are tobe accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims,wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean“one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.”All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the variousembodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or latercome to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art areexpressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to beencompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein isintended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether suchdisclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic cigarette comprising: a housing adapted to contain components of an electronic cigarette device; wherein the housing is comprised of a flexible and resilient material capable of protecting the components while allowing the housing to flex when handled by a user.
 2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polycarbonate.
 3. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polystyrene.
 4. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polyvinylchloride.
 5. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the housing has an outer diameter in the range of about 7.59 mm to about 7.86 mm.
 6. An electronic cigarette comprising: a housing adapted to contain components of an electronic cigarette device; a label adapted to be placed over at least a portion of an exterior of the housing; wherein the label is comprised of paper; a plastic coating positioned over a portion of the label in an area where the label is intended to enter a user's mouth during use.
 7. The electronic cigarette of claim 6 further comprising an adhesive layer contacting an underside of the label and an exterior of the housing.
 8. The electronic cigarette of claim 6 where the plastic coating is comprised of one of polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate.
 9. The electronic cigarette of claim 7 wherein the label and adhesive layer form a laminate.
 10. The electronic cigarette of claim 9 wherein the laminate has a thickness in the range of about 0.06 to about 0.15 mm.
 11. The electronic cigarette of claim 6 wherein the plastic coating has a thickness in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.06 mm.
 12. The electronic cigarette of claim 6 wherein the housing is rigid.
 13. An electronic cigarette comprising: a housing adapted to contain components of an electronic cigarette device; wherein the housing is comprised of a flexible and resilient material capable of protecting the components while allowing the housing to flex when handled by a user; a label adapted to be placed over at least a portion of an exterior of the housing; wherein the label is comprised of paper; and a plastic coating positioned over a portion of the label in an area where the label is intended to enter a user's mouth during use.
 14. The electronic cigarette of claim 13 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polycarbonate.
 15. The electronic cigarette of claim 13 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polystyrene.
 16. The electronic cigarette of claim 13 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polyvinylchloride.
 17. The electronic cigarette of claim 13 wherein the housing has an outer diameter in the range of about 7.59 mm to about 7.86 mm.
 18. The electronic cigarette of claim 13 further comprising an adhesive layer contacting an underside of the label and an exterior of the housing.
 19. The electronic cigarette of claim 13 where the plastic coating is comprised of one of polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate.
 20. The electronic cigarette of claim 18 wherein the label and adhesive layer form a laminate. 